Swimming for health and wellbeing

Swimming for Health and Wellbeing

No matter what age, level of health or fitness, everyone will benefit from swimming. This is the magic of the water, and this is why everyone should swim.

Of course I am biased, as I am a native swimmer. You could easily roll your eyes and say that I am one of those "fish people," and brush off my assertions about swimming. Luckily the Health and Science world agrees that swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for your mind and body.

The health benefits of swimming are off the charts. If done on a regular basis, it can lower cholesterol levels. It increases blood flow to your brain and body as well as  boosts your metabolism (1). On average, swimmers have a lower resting heart rate and blood pressure (2). It also strengthens your core and works stabilizer muscles, which as a result can reduce the risk of injury. In fact, if a person is injured, the one exercise that is almost always recommended during recovery is swimming. It is true that most exercise is good for you, however, in only 30 minutes of swimming you burn the same amount of calories as you would in doing 45 minutes of other forms of land-based cardio (3).

Not only is swimming good for your physical health, but it is also proven to be good for your wellbeing. It is commonly known, that like other exercise activities, it causes a release of endorphins to the brain, making a person feel happier. But there is something unique about swimming and the way it seems to literally wash your worries away. Psychologists believe that there may be a link between the feeling of weightlessness that swimming brings, and the sense of safety of being in the womb. It is a sense of calm that can not be found in many other activities. The act of submerging one's self eliminates most outside stimuli, which can reduce stress and anxiety. Studies have shown that people who swim on a regular basis, experience less depression, tension, and anger after going for a swim (3).

Aside from the physical and mental benefits, swimming can be a great form of cross training for endurance athletes. The controlled breathing pattern done for proper swimming technique causes your body to more effectively use oxygen and expel carbon dioxide (1).

Sometimes there can be barriers to taking the plunge. It can be the cold, your busy schedule, perhaps feeling uncomfortable in a pair of togs, or not being at the skill or fitness level that you would like to be. Like anything, swimming is something that one needs to proactively make time for in order for it to become a habit. It is also important to not just think about swimming fast, but rather to work on improving stroke technique so that your time in the water becomes more enjoyable rather than simply a chore.

Incorporating swimming into your fitness routine has the potential to improve your health and wellbeing on many levels. Putting in the time and effort to improve your stroke efficiency will make your experience more enjoyable. Despite the mental barriers that you face before getting in, you always feel better after taking the plunge.

REFERENCES

1. Fetters, A. Benefits of Swimming: Reasons Every Woman Should Swim. Retrieved April 13, 2019, from

     https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/swimming/benefits-of-swimming/

2. ​The Physical, Social, and Psychological Benefits of Swimming. (2010). Retrieved April 13, 2019, from

https://www.active.com/swimming/articles/the-physical-social-and-psychological-benefits-of-swimming

3. Hunt, A. Better You. (25 April 2013). Retrieved April 13, 2019, from

https://www.psychologies.co.uk/self/the-meditative-power-of-swimming.html